Latch



F. M. WAGNER.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. I920.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'J an. 4, 1921.

Application filed June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,664.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. XVAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented, new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to latches, and more particularly to a latch adapted for use. in connection with phonographs and similar structures having hinged lids.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for holding the lid of'a phonograph case raised, this means permitting ready lowering of the lid by raising the same to a predetermined extent beyond its normal raised position and then lowering the lid. Another objectis to provide a device which will permit the lid to be lowered, in the ordinary manner, and will not require any special skill or practice in its operation. Further objects will ap pear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure l is a fragmentary side view of a phonograph case of conventional type showing the latch applied.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inner side view of the lowerv portion of the latch arm.

Fig. 3 is a forward end view of the same.

A latch arm 1 is pivoted at its rearward end to a suitable bracket 2 secured to lid 3 of easing 4, this lid being hinged to the casing in the known manner. This arm is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 5 which terminates at its forward end in an enlarged opening 5. The slot receives the usual stud 6 which is secured to the inner side of case at in the known manner and projects through the slot, this stud being provided on its inner end with an enlarged head 6 A supporting plate 8 is secured to the inner side of the forward end of arm 1, this plate extending across the greater portion of the opening 5' and being held in spaced relation to the arm by spacing and securing posts 7. A substantially triangular shaped guide plate 9 is supported by plate 8 in spaced relation thereto, this guide plate being positioned within opening 5" in spaced relation to the walls thereof, and extended rearwardly in slot 5 beyond a downwardly and forwardly directed recess 10 provided at the forward end of the upper wall of the slot for reception of stud 6. The forward wall 5 of opening 5 is arched downwardly and forwardly from recess 10 and is provided with a shoulder 12 adjacent its lower end beneath which engages the free end of a leaf spring 11 secured in guide plate 9 and bridging the space between this plate and the shoulder. As will be noted more clearly from Fig. 1, the guide plate cooperates with the enlarged opening and the slot to provide a downwardly and forwardly inclined passage for reception of the stud and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined passage ex tending beneath spring 11 and guide plate 9, the lower edge of this plate being curved upwardly and rearwardly so as to insure entry of the stud into the slot upon lowering of arm 1.

In use, when the lid 3 is raised, the arm rides upon stud 6 and is brought into such position that the stud is positioned Within recess 10 thus holding the lid raised as illus trated. When it is desired to lower the lid, the lid is raised to such an extent as to cause displacement of spring 11, the stud 6 entering the lower passage beneath the spring, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the stud is in this position, the lid may be readily lowered, the spring 11 and guideplate 9 serving to effectually prevent all possibility of the stud reentering recess 10 during the lowering operation.

For convenience in assembling, the arm 1 is provided wth an enlarged recess 13 ex tending from the lower wall of slot 5. This recess is of such size as to permit ready insertion therethrough of enlarged head 6 of stud 6. This permits the arm and the parts carried thereby to be readily applied to a phonograph case employing the type of stud in common use.

WVhat I claim is 1. In combination with a fixed member and a memberpivoted thereto, an armpivoted to and depending from said pivoted member and provided with a slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged substantially triangularly shaped opening having its forward wall inclined downwardly and forwardly, a stud projecting into said slot, the slot being provided adjacent the lower end of its upper wall with a clownwardly directed recess for reception of said stud, a guide member supported within the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending beyond said recess, and a downwardly opening stop member extending from the forward wall of the opening at a point above the lower end thereof to the lower edge of the guide member.

2. In combination with a case and a lid hinged thereto, a latch arm pivoted at its rearward end to the lid and provided with a slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged opening, said opening having its forward wall inclined downwardly and forwardly and provided adjacent its upper end with a downwardly directed recess, a stud projecting into the slot, a guide member supported within the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending rearwardly of the slot beyond said recess, and a downwardly displaceable stop member bridging the space between the forward end of the guide member and the forward wall of said opening.

3. In combination with a case and a lid hinged thereto, a latch arm pivoted at its rearward end tothe lid and provided with a slot, said arm having a downwardly directed recess at the forward end of its upper wall and being provided at its forward end with a forward passage extending downwardly and forwardly from said recess and a lower passage extending upwardly and rearwardly of the arm from the lower end of the forward passage, a stud projecting into said slot, and means for permitting entry of the stud from the forward passage into said lower passage and for preventing return of the stud from the forward end of the lower passage into the lower end of said forward assage.

4:. n combination with a casing and a lid hinged thereto, an arm pivoted at its rearward end to said lid and provided with a slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged opening having its forward wall inclined downwardly and forwardly, a stud projecting into said slot, the slot being provided in its upper wall with a forwardly and downwardly directed recess for reception of the stud, a guide plate supported within the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending rearwardly in the slot beyond said recess, and a leaf spring having one end fixed and the other end free bridging the space between the forward edge of the guide plate and the forward wall of said opening.

5. In combination with a case and a lid hinged thereto, an arm pivoted at its rearward end to the lid and provided with a slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged opening having a forwardly and downwardly arched wall provided with a shoulder adjacent its lower end, the arm being provided at the upper end of said arched wall with a downwardly and forwardly directed recess, a stud projecting into said slot, a guide plate supported within the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending rearwardly in the slot beyond said recess, said plate having its lower edge inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a leaf spring secured to the lower edge of the guide plate, the free end of said spring engaging beneath said shoulder.

(3. ln combination with a case and a lid hinged thereto, an arm pivoted at its rearward end to the lid and provided with a slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged opening having a forwardly and downwardly arched wall provided with a shoulder adjacent its lower end, the arm being provided at the upper end of said arched wall with a downwardly and forwardly directed recess, a stud projecting into said slot, a supporting plate secured to one side of the lower end of the arm, a guide plate secured to said supporting plate and pos1tioned with in the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and extending rearward in the slot beyond said recess, said plate having its lower edge inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a leaf spring secured to the lower edge of the guide plate, the free end of said spring engaging beneath said shoulder.

7. As an article of manufacture, an arm provided with a longitudinally extending slot terminating at its forward end in an enlarged opening having a downwardly arched forward wall provided adjacent its lower end with a shoulder, said arm having a downwardly and forwardly directed recess at the upper end of said arched wall, a guide plate supported within the opening in spaced relation to the walls thereof and having its lower edge inclined upwardly and rearwardly, said plate extending rearwardly beyond the recess, and a leaf spring secured to the plate and having its free end engaging beneath said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature FRANCIS M. VAGNER. 

